朝日新聞コラム「天声人語」(1989.12.29)
| ももいろと/ 若草色の春がきて うららかな日々が/ 楽しくすぎてゆく えんじいろと/ マリンブルーの夏がきて 木々のみどりが/ こくなってくる もみじいろと/ 黄金色の秋がきて 実りの日々は/ とぶようにすぎてゆく 純白と/ ゆうやけ色の冬がきて こごえながら/ 日々がすぎてゆく （堀明子詩集『四季の色』） かくて季節は一巡、今年も暮れようとしている。遠からぬ日に、寒気の中にひらく花もあるだろう。 ふくよかな香りは どこから生まれたのでしょう そよ風にもふるえる/ うすい花びらは 何でできているのでしょう あざやかな色あいは どこからつくりだしたのでしょう ああ美しいうめの花 右の二つの詩は、堀明子さんが小学四年生の時に自習用の帳面に書いたものだ。高校一年生になって、事故で亡くなった。 |
ことし編まれた詩集をいくたびも開き、自然の素晴らしさをとらえる感受性のみずみずしいことに打たれた。 今年の暮れ、故郷を目ざして移動する人々。親しい者との、まどいの喜びに加え、ふるさとの山河との再会が、さぞ人に安らぎをもたらすことだろう。だが、人々をはぐくんだ自然が昔のままであるとの保証はない。この数ヶ月に出た、自然環境の状態に関する数件の報告はいずれも悪化を訴える。ひとことで言えば、水も空も汚れがひどくなっている。環境庁などの調査では、有機溶剤による地下水の汚染が広がったという。監視するよう、今月全国の自治体に指示が出た。湖沼の浄化も、はかばかしくない。 大都市圏での二酸化窒素による大気汚染も改善されず深刻だ。今年は若い人々に環境への高まりが見てとれ心強かった。だが事態は楽観できぬ。中学校の生物部で自然に親しみ、人間のごうまんさに憤っていたという明子さん。小四の時に、こう書く。 いまは青い/ 美しい空だけれど 百年ほど時がすぎれば 何色になってることやら |
| VOX POPULL, VOX DEI（Asahi Evening news） Deteriorating Natural Environment |
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| "In spring, a season of pink and pole green/ Balmy days go by pleasantly/ In summer, a time of deep red and marine blue/ Tree leaves grow more green/ In crimson and golden autumn/ Harvesting days fly/ And in winter, pure white and with sunset glows/ Days pass freezingly." (from "The Colors of the Four Seasons," Akiko Hori’s collection of poems) The seasonsroll around this way in Japan. Before long, someflowers will begin to bloom despite the cold. "Where does this fragrant scent come from?/ What are the thin petals, fluttering even in a breeze, made up of?/ What is the secret of their vivid Colors?/ Oh, the beauty of 'ume' (Japanese apricot) blossoms!" Akiko Hori wrote the two poems in a notebook for homework when she was a fourth grader in primary school, she was killed in a traffic accident. Her poems were compiled into book form in 1989. Whenever I open the book, I am impressed by her sharp sensibilities which enabled her to capture the wonders of nature into poems. The last days of a year are the time for the exodus of people heading for their native places. A waiting them are the joys of talking intimately with their |
relatives and friends. The native landscape also gives them comfort.. But
there is no guarantee that the natural land-scape around their hometowns
remains the same as in their younger days. Several report recently released
on the natural environment all said the situation is deteriorating. Quite
simply, water and the air are becoming more polluted. The contamination
of underground water by organic solvents is spreading, according to a survey
conducted by the Environment Agency. Earlier in December, the agency instructed
local governments to keep watch on the solvent pollution. The programs
for cleanings lakes and marshes are not making much progress. Air pollution by nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide has not improved in major cities and their suburbs. It was heartening that young people showed signs of taking a keener interest in the environmental issue in 1989. But the situation does not allow us to be optimistic. Being a lover of nature, Hori belonged to an extra-curricular biology club when she was in junior high school. She is said to have been angered by the arrogance of human beings toward nature. Here is another poem she composed when she was a fourth grader in primary school: "The sky is blue and beautiful now But what color will it have after 100 years?" |